Raised from the dead a bible study

As I start to write this, it is around Easter and Christians celebrate that holiday as a remembrance to when Jesus Himself rose from the grave again after being crucified 3 days earlier. I am led to do one where I use the different examples of being raised from the dead. This is a thorough study, hitting the different aspects of it. I want to let the scripture and such so comments will be relatively minimal.

The first one I use is Elijah and the widow’s son

(1 Kings 17:17)   After this the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill. And his illness was so severe that there was no breath left in him.

(1 Kings 17:18)   And she said to Elijah, "What have you against me, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my sin to remembrance and to cause the death of my son!"

(1 Kings 17:19)   And he said to her, "Give me your son." And he took him from her arms and carried him up into the upper chamber where he lodged, and laid him on his own bed.

(1 Kings 17:20)   And he cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?"

(1 Kings 17:21)   Then he stretched himself upon the child three times and cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this child's life come into him again."

(1Kings 17:22)   And the LORD listened to the voice of Elijah. And the life of the child came into him again, and he revived.

(1 Kings 17:23)   And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper chamber into the house and delivered him to his mother. And Elijah said, "See, your son lives."

(1 Kings 17:24)   And the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth."

Elisha had two instances one in 2 kings 4 where he also raised a woman’s son

(2 Kings 4:18)   When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father among the reapers.

(2 Kings 4:19)   And he said to his father, "Oh, my head, my head!" The father said to his servant, "Carry him to his mother."

(2 Kings 4:20)   And when he had lifted him and brought him to his mother, the child sat on her lap till noon, and then he died.

(2 Kings 4:21)   And she went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God and shut the door behind him and went out.

(2 Kings 4:22)   Then she called to her husband and said, "Send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may quickly go to the man of God and come back again."

(2 Kings 4:23)   And he said, "Why will you go to him today? It is neither new moon nor Sabbath." She said, "All is well."

(2Kings 4:24)   Then she saddled the donkey, and she said to her servant, "Urge the animal on; do not slacken the pace for me unless I tell you."

(2 Kings 4:25)   So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her coming, he said to Gehazi his servant, "Look, there is the Shunammite.

(2 Kings 4:26)   Run at once to meet her and say to her, 'Is all well with you? Is all well with your husband? Is all well with the child?'" And she answered, "All is well."

(2 Kings 4:27)   And when she came to the mountain to the man of God, she caught hold of his feet. And Gehazi came to push her away. But the man of God said, "Leave her alone, for she is in bitter distress, and the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me."

(2 Kings 4:28)   Then she said, "Did I ask my lord for a son? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me?'"

(2Kings 4:29)   He said to Gehazi, "Tie up your garment and take my staff in your hand and go. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not reply. And lay my staff on the face of the child."

(2 Kings 4:30)   Then the mother of the child said, "As the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So he arose and followed her.

(2 Kings 4:31)   Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the face of the child, but there was no sound or sign of life. Therefore he returned to meet him and told him, "The child has not awakened."

(2 Kings 4:32)   When Elisha came into the house, he saw the child lying dead on his bed.

(2 Kings 4:33)   So he went in and shut the door behind the two of them and prayed to the LORD.

(2 Kings 4:34)   Then he went up and lay on the child, putting his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. And as he stretched himself upon him, the flesh of the child became warm.

(2 Kings 4:35)   Then he got up again and walked once back and forth in the house, and went up and stretched himself upon him. The child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

(2 Kings 4:36)   Then he summoned Gehazi and said, "Call this Shunammite." So he called her. And when she came to him, he said, "Pick up your son."

(2 Kings 4:37)   She came and fell at his feet, bowing to the ground. Then she picked up her son and went out.

The other story was just after Elijah died, and was buried.

(2 Kings 13:20)   So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year.

(2Kings 13:21)   And as a man was being buried, behold, a marauding band was seen and the man was thrown into the grave of Elisha, and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.

And here is the prophecy in Ezekiel 37 of the dry bones

(Ezekiel 37:1)   The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones.

(Ezekiel 37:2)   And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry.

(Ezekiel 37:3)   And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know."

(Eze 37:4)   Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.

(Ezekiel 37:5)   Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.

(Ezekiel 37:6)   And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD."

(Ezekiel 37:7)   So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.

(Ezekiel 37:8)   And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them.

(Ezekiel 37:9)   Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."

(Ezekiel 37:10)   So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

(Ezekiel 37:11)   Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.'

(Ezekiel 37:12)   Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel.

(Ezekiel 37:13)   And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people.

(Ezekiel 37:14)   And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD."

Here Jesus raised a widow’s son from the dead

(Luke 7:11)   Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him.

(Luke 7:12)   As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.

(Luke 7:13)   And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."

(Luke 7:14)   Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."

(Luke 7:15)   And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

(Luke 7:16)   Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and "God has visited his people!"

(Luke 7:17)   And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

Jesus raises Jairus daughter from the dead in Mark

(Mark 5:23)   and implored him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live."

(Mark 5:24)   And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.

(Mark 5:35)   While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?"

(Mark 5:36)   But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."

(Mark 5:37)   And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James.

(Mark 5:38)   They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.

(Mark 5:39)   And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping."

(Mar 5:40)   And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was.

(Mark 5:41)   Taking her by the hand he said to her, "Talitha cumi," which means, "Little girl, I say to you, arise."

(Mark 5:42)   And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.

(Mark 5:43)   And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Here is another account of it in Matthew

(Matthew 9:18)   While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live."

(Matthew 9:19)   And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples.

(Matthew 9:23)   And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion,

(Matthew 9:24)   he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him.

(Matthew 9:25)   But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.

(Matthew 9:26)   And the report of this went through all that district.

Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead, though Lazarus was dead four days:

(John 11:1)   Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

(John 11:2)   It was Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was ill.

(John 11:3)   So the sisters sent to him, saying, "Lord, he whom you love is ill."

(John 11:4)   But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it."

(John 11:5)   Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.

(John 11:6)   So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

(John 11:7)   Then after this he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."

(John 11:8)   The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just now seeking to stone you, and are you going there again?"

(John 11:9)   Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world.

(John 11:10)   But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him."

(John 11:11)   After saying these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him."

(John 11:12)   The disciples said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover."

(John 11:13)   Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he meant taking rest in sleep.

(John 11:14)   Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died,

(John 11:15)   and for your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him."

(John 11:16)   So Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go, that we may die with him."

(John 11:17)   Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days.

(John 11:18)   Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off,

(John 11:19)   and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother.

(John 11:20)   So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house.

(John 11:21)   Martha said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.

(John 11:22)   But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you."

(John 11:23)   Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

(John 11:24)   Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day."

(John 11:25)   Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

(John 11:26)   and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?"

(John 11:27)   She said to him, "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world."

(John 11:28)   When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you."

(John 11:29)   And when she heard it, she rose quickly and went to him.

(John 11:30)   Now Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still in the place where Martha had met him.

(John 11:31)   When the Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary rise quickly and go out, they followed her, supposing that she was going to the tomb to weep there.

(John 11:32)   Now when Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet, saying to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

(John 11:33)   When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.

(John 11:34)   And he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see."

(John 11:35)   Jesus wept.

(John 11:36)   So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!"

(John 11:37)   But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man also have kept this man from dying?"

(John 11:38)   Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it.

(John 11:39)   Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days."

(John 11:40)   Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?"

(John 11:41)   So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me.

(John 11:42)   I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me."

(John 11:43)   When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out."

(John 11:44)   The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

(John 11:45)   Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him,

Peter raises Dorcas from the dead in Acts

(Acts 9:38)   Since Lydda was near Joppa, the disciples, hearing that Peter was there, sent two men to him, urging him, "Please come to us without delay."

(Acts 9:39)   So Peter rose and went with them. And when he arrived, they took him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him weeping and showing tunics and other garments that Dorcas made while she was with them.

(Acts 9:40)   But Peter put them all outside, and knelt down and prayed; and turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.

(Acts 9:41)   And he gave her his hand and raised her up. Then calling the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

(Acts 9:42)   And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord.

(Acts 9:43)   And he stayed in Joppa for many days with one Simon, a tanner.

And here was someone that Paul raised from the dead

(Acts 20:8)   There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered.

(Acts 20:9)   And a young man named Eutychus, sitting at the window, sank into a deep sleep as Paul talked still longer. And being overcome by sleep, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead.

(Acts 20:10)   But Paul went down and bent over him, and taking him in his arms, said, "Do not be alarmed, for his life is in him."

(Acts 20:11)   And when Paul had gone up and had broken bread and eaten, he conversed with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.

All the preceding people who were raised died again. This is not so for Jesus who went back to Heaven still alive to become King of Kings and Lord of Lords sitting by the Heavenly Father as an intercessor for all of us.

Here is the account of the rising of Jesus in Mark

(Mark 16:1)   When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.

(Mark 16:2)   And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.

(Mark 16:3)   And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?"

(Mark 16:4)   And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back--it was very large.

(Mark 16:5)   And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.

(Mark 16:6)   And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.

(Mar 16:7)   But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you."

(Mark 16:8)   And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

(Mark 16:9)   [[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.

(Mark 16:10)   She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

(Mark 16:11)   But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

(Mark 16:12)   After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country.

And in the gospel of Luke

(Luke 24:1)   But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.

(Luke 24:2)   And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

(Luke 24:3)   but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

(Luke 24:4)   While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.

(Luke 24:5)   And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

(Luke 24:6)   He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,

(Luke 24:7)   that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise."

(Luke 24:8)   And they remembered his words,

(Luke 24:9)   and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.

(Luke 24:10)   Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,

(Luke 24:11)   but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

(Luke 24:12)   But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

(Luke 24:13)   That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,

(Luke 24:14)   and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.

(Luke 24:15)   While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.

(Luke 24:16)   But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

Here is the account in the gospel of John

(John 20:1)   Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

(John 20:2)   So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."

(John 20:3)   So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.

(John 20:4)   Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

(John 20:5)   And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.

(John 20:6)   Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,

(John 20:7)   and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.

(John 20:8)   Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;

(John 20:9)   for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

(John 20:10)   Then the disciples went back to their homes.

(John 20:11)   But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.

(John 20:12)   And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.

(John 20:13)   They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."

(John 20:14)   Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

(John 20:15)   Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."

(John 20:16)   Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

(John 20:17)   Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

(John 20:18)   Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"--and that he had said these things to her.

Then there is the story of the two prophets in   Revelation

(Revelation 11:7)   And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them,

(Revelation 11:8)   and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified.

(Revelation 11:9)   For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb,

(Revelation 11:10)   and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.

(Revelation 11:11)   But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them.

(Revelation 11:12)   Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here!" And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them.

(Revelation 11:13)   And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.

At this stage there will be no more death as it says in Revelation:

(Revelation 21:3)   And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.

(Revelation 21:4)   He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

Before the events of Revelation 11, the dead in   Christ shall be raised first as said in the scripture

(1Thessolonians 4:13)   But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

(1 Thessalonians 4:14)   For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

(1 Thessalonians 4:15)   For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

(1Thessalonians 4:16)   For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

(1Thessalonians 4:17)   Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

(1 Thessalonians 4:18)   Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Also here in 1 Corinthians 15

(1Corinthians 15:26)   The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

This is the end of death, and at the point where everyone is raised from the dead, and the unsaved judged

(Revelation 20:11)   Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.

(Revelation 20:12)   And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.

(Revelation 20:13)   And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done.

(Revelation 20:14)   Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.

(Revelation 20:15)   And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

This is the victory over death for the saved.

(1 Corinthians 15:51)   Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

(1 Corinthians 15:52)   in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

(1 Corinthians 15:53)   For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

(1 Corinthians 15:54)   When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

(1 Corinthians 15:55)   "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?"

(1 Corinthians 15:56)   The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

(1 Corinthians 15:57)   But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(1 Corinthians 15:58)   Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

In the end death and Hades end up being thrown in the lake of fire, along with anyone who does not know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior which gets someone in the book of life and raptured too, though many will be saved during the tribulation period. I have no wish for anyone to end up in the lake of fire for eternity or even miss the rapture so, please why not pray this prayer with me?

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life. Amen.

Now, that you have prayed this prayer I cannot strongly enough suggest praying to Him each day, to get to know Him and for Him to know you, too. I also strongly advise reading and doing the following too, to be that much surer of making the rapture:

1. Make sure that you have received Jesus Christ into your life as your PERSONAL Lord and Savior(see the salvation prayer above and use it if need be).

2. Examine your own heart for any signs of backsliding, worldliness, unwatchfulness, compromising, and lukewarmness.

3. REPENT (Turn COMPLETELY away from sin and turn COMPLETELY around towards Jesus).   Sin separates you from God, even as a Christian.

4. Study end-time Biblical prophecy(Daniel 7-12, Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 17, 21, 1 Corinthians 15, 1 Thessolonians 4 and 5, other placesd but the   book of Revelation in particular)   until you become completely convinced that His Coming is, indeed, AT THE DOOR.   This will help keep you from temptation and sin.   JESUS IS COMING VERY SOON!!! Lord help me be absolutely convinced YOU ARE at the door!!!!!

5. Do something for the Lord.   (Passing out tracts would be a good start.)

6. Examine your priorities, lest the CARES OF THIS LIFE cause YOU to MISS THE RAPTURE, as we are so adamantly WARNED about in Luke 21, and so many other Scriptures.

7. Draw closer to God by praying, reading His Word, attending a fundamental church as often as possible, and surround yourself with a Christian atmosphere (Christian friends, books, music, radio, TV, etc.)

8. PRAY DILIGENTLY.   ASK THE LORD TO REVEAL TO YOU ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE THAT EVEN MIGHT KEEP YOU FROM THE RAPTURE.   PRAY THAT THE LORD WOULD GIVE YOU A PEACE, IF YOU ARE READY, AND AN UNREST AND UNEASINESS IN YOUR HEART, IF YOU ARE NOT READY.

9. Listen for His voice and then STAY OPEN TO THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

10. Act upon that which the Lord is calling you to do. DO IT NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE!

Please also pray and ask the Lord Jesus to see if you are indeed ready, and to give you peace if you and If the Lord has planted even the least bit of doubt or uneasiness in your heart, will you swallow your pride and pray this prayer with me:

"Dear Lord, Thank you for preparing a WAY OF ESCAPE from the horrible Tribulation to come.   It is my sincere desire to be ready for your Soon Return, so that I can participate in the Rapture. Give me a COMPLETE PEACE IN MY HEART FROM YOU if I am, indeed, ready. Let there be no false sense of security in my heart concerning my readiness for Your Return. Begin to reveal to me things in my life and in my heart that might keep me from the Rapture.   Show me what I need to do to BE READY and then give me the power to act upon that which you show me to do.   Draw me away from the world and closer to you every day.   Use me in whatever way you can to help others

who may not be ready for your Return.   Fill me with your peace when I am ready and fill me with YOUR POWER, for victory over sin and temptation, and for effective service for your kingdom.   In Jesus' mighty name, Amen

If, by some chance, you are reading this after the rapture has taken place, all is not lost, just pray immediately to accept Jesus as savior and /or recommit your life to Him, if backsliding was the cause of missing the rapture, repenting of any and all sin and backslidings and lukewarmness that caused you to miss the rapture and whatever else you do NEVER, EVER TAKE THE MARK OF THE BEAST OR YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN THE LAKE OF FIRE!!!!!(taking the mark of the beat means you are married to Satan, the antichrist, the beast and false prophet ALL OF WHOM ARE DESTINED FOR THE LAKE OF FIRE, AS ARE ALL WHO TAKE THEIR MARK ON THEIR FORHEAD OR HAND). IT IS NOT AT ALL FORGIVABLE TO TAKE THIS MARK- and this is something God DOES NOT forgive for- so again do all you can to survive even though you won’t be able to buy, sell, work, and so on, have to hide from civilization, face jail, torture, and be executed. If you do die that way, for refusing the mark of the beast and if you are Jesus’ you will go to heaven immediately as a tribulation saint. I cannot Stress enough to NEVER, EVER accept the mark of the beast, no matter what the cost!!!!

Here is a video link of the above http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbvC-9Ei83E&feature=youtu.be